Aaaahhh, vegetable soup! That sounds so wonderful (and cheese-less!) I remember having a great recipe that used a base of tomato juice and broth. I may have to look that up. thanks for the reminder, Pat!

Allison, check out my recipe for "minestrone" soup on the recipes thread: http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/2088123-post10.html

I also can't eat salad this time of year. However, I have been cooking up at least one kind of veggie soup each week lately!

Megan, thanks for the links! It didn't even occur to me to look for strength programs for triathletes. And congrats on pre-xmas weight!

My scale was cooperating today, amazingly. 139.0. Surprising considering TOM is coming and it usually goes up.

Hey swimmers, guess what? I learned how to swim butterfly at swim class last night! :swim: Talk about a workout, I was only able to make it halfway across the pool before running out of steam on that one and I could barely get my arms out of the water. I will definitely be practicing it this weekend.

NRLW stage 7 is still kicking my butt even though I'm halfway through it now. I'm sore from Tuesday, and yet today's workout calls for two sets of 6-8 heavy squats, followed by 4 sets of 15-20 heel-raised squats. Squats are evil! But I am proud of myself because on Tuesday I did my deadlifts with two 40# dumbbells. That's twice as much weight as I used the first time I did them six months ago. I would still rather try with a barbell and see if I could do better, but you gotta work with what you've got.

Morning all. I'm in a good mood b/c the scale dropped another pound this morning and I fit into some pants I didn't fit into a few months ago. Since I've hit my Valentine's goal of 153 two weeks early, I think I'm going to readjust that goal to 151. I don't want to get complacent b/c I do have some obstacles coming up next week - a 3 day trip for work and an overnight camping trip where everyone will be consuming alcohol. Today's workout will be core, running, and shoulders if I've got time. I sort of lost some motivation partway through my legs workout yesterday, but I still finished strong.

Jessica, squats are evil but they make one's rear look really good! Congrats on increasing your deadlift weight so much, too. And learning the butterfly! Look at you, making all these strides in fitness and learning new things. You go girl!

Allison, I completely understand - cold salads and raw veggies just aren't as appetizing in the colder weather. I like soup/stews that have my veggie serving in them. I also roast a lot of veggies in the winter. There's the normal "winter" assortment of roasted root veggies (sweet potato, onion, carrots, parsnips, turnips, white potato, etc.), squash, but for less starchy things remember you can also roast just about anything! I'm into beets lately, but broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, brussel sprouts... I roast it all! Oh and don't forget cooking greens like swiss chard, kale, or your southern collards, etc. All are in season right now. Or, how about stir-fries with lots of veggies?

Heeeellllloooooo, it's been a while.
mood, better.
much stress, continues
exercise, still good
scale, very slowly but distinctly trending down

I second they veggie roasts and soup. loooove them.

Jessica, butterfly is really hard, awesome accomplishment
Megan, I read your tale of difficult 80lb weights which was actually and increase- very cool.
Allison, if you like cheese, and who doesn't, really?? try the lower fat broc cheddar cheese soup (there is actually no cheddar in it) made with a bar a neufchatel cream cheese. if interested I'll get more complete.
Silver, you staying warmly the fire or by chopping fire wiid these days?
Midwife, Ward, Pat, everyone :). HI!

onward and forward. meeting with new au pair's liason person in few minutes then dashing to airport to pick up mom (IT SNOWED, ROADS HORRIBLE). had to postpone another meeting re this final exam I'm writing that is stressing the bejesus out of me, too much to do with kids after school. on and on we all go. is it summer vacation yet?

I'm doing quite well here despite the rest of life being rather heavy duty and time-consuming at present. Food is not stepping in to protect me from it, so that's good. But if I don't get to the gymn soon, I think I am going to suffer. I am, in fact, suffering already.

Kittycat - we had a wood delivery yesterday so I'm no longer scavenging bits and pieces and sawing madly every day and night. (Long story, friends. Normally we are much better organised.)

Pantsometer update. I can zip up the linen trousers so, if things go according to plan, I'll have a wearable pair for spring and summer. :cool: The lined pair still won't do up. I may only get into them when the weather turns nice. :dizzy: Next session: Saturday about 0730.

One foot in front of the other.

Hello all,
Good job keeping on keeping on!
I hope to have some positive scale news to report soon, but right now, um, I don't.
I need summer. I know it's lame, but I am having such a hard time getting in my morning runs. I'm still running 3 times a week, but it is clearly not enough. Must solve it somehow.

I need one of those shock collar things to get me off my butt and out to the gym this morning. *zzzzz* ok, ok! I'm going!

Maybe for a small fee you could hire someone to chase you around with a little taser gun or something? That would certainly motivate me! :D

Sorry to everyone suffering from the winter blues. I know I would be a victim as well if I lived further north. It will be spring... one day! In the meantime I'm sending some sunny rays :sunny: telepathically to you all.

Silver, congrats on zipping those linen pants! One pair at a time, right?

Kitty, sorry to hear about all the craziness. Spring break is coming soon-ish.

I'm going to be very busy this weekend with the play, and departing Sunday right after the matinee for a business meeting for the next 3 days. Then home for a bunch of field work... my goals are to keep my cool, keep going to the gym (I've stayed at this hotel before and I know it's got a decent gym!), and eat as OP as I possibly can. Keep up the good work everyone! And have a great weekend! :carrot::carrot::carrot:

Ward - I could use one of those shock collars to make me get up in time to exercise in the morning. I saw a cartoon once of an alarm clock that flipped the mattress up and rolled the person in the bed onto the floor. That would work, too. :)

Silver, great job on the pants! :high:

Ward, did you go? :kickbutt:

Kitty and Midwife, I am so ready for summer too! I was saying to DH the other day, I can't believe we have two whole more months of winter before it even thinks about becoming spring. Ugh!

Megan, good luck with the play!

Scale is down again today, but only back to where my ticker is. Sigh. I guess 1.5 lbs this month is about all I could expect, but still. I blame the weather since it's kept me from running! I only ran once so far this month. :o I've been doing plenty of workouts - swimming, NRLW, etc - but running is the thing that always seems to make the biggest difference to my weight.

I hear that, girl ;)
but the other exercises have impact on my physical shape as well as my mental state. very positive :) but nothing like some good runs to get me feeling sllliiim :p

Go Megan- break a leg, metaphorically ;)

Oh, gosh, yes, running is what makes the difference for me too.

I get to go for a run today! Wooohooo!!!

Last night I said no to pizza at 2 different places and had eggs, zucchini, and salsa instead. It was yummier than pizza! Yea for healthy food!

Hi, all! Paperclippy - WAY TO GO on the butterfly!!! It has the deserved nickname of "butterstruggle" for a lot of people!

I've been wildly busy at work and just generally out of any time for checking in. Right now I'm having to work through lunch, which was a great time to log on, and I'm out on the floor more often than at the 'puter anyway. And DH was told Monday that he's now on 6 days/60 hours for the next 3 months, so I'm basically single-parenting. Augh! Throw in a required 8 hours of sleep ... and a lovely cold (thanks, DS10) ... yuck. I don't care if I'm better or not - I'm getting back to the pool on Monday. I've got that wonderful laryngitis thing going - where every time I try to talk, I honk like a Canadian goose. :D

In spite of it, I'm still on a downward trend. I think I can call 147 a preliminary redline, but I kind of want to see where this lazy drift down is going to stop. I haven't counted a calorie since last year - I'm just using all the tools I've learned here to consciously understand what I stick in my mouth and what the payoff is. So far, so good!

Feel better soon, ICU!

I have good news! Went to the store yesterday and did not buy goldfish crackers! Yipee!